Refrigerator with shelf lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs face issues with moisture ingress leading to short circuits and foreign substance entry due to open housing in the power bus, causing connection failures and terminal damage from exposure.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with shelf lighting that incorporates a power supply rail with sockets open laterally to prevent foreign substance entry, and rotatable terminals with elastic springs for stable connection, reducing the risk of short circuits and terminal damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the housing of the power bus is opened forward to communicate with the coupling hole, then the connector can be easily inserted and coupled, but moisture and foreign substances can easily enter the housing causing short circuits and connection failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the opening direction of the housing from forward (toward the front of the refrigerator) to rearward (toward the back wall). This inversion allows the coupling hole to remain accessible for connector insertion while the opened rearward direction directs moisture and foreign substances away from the internal components, preventing them from entering the housing cavity where the conductors are located.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful flow of moisture and air into a beneficial directional flow. By opening the housing rearward, the natural flow of moisture-laden air is directed toward the back wall rather than allowing it to penetrate into the housing. The harmful moisture flow is thus redirected away from sensitive components, turning the unavoidable presence of moisture in the refrigerator environment into a non-threatening condition.
2Ease of manufacture
If the terminals are exposed to the outside, then connection to conductors is straightforward, but terminals are easily damaged by contact with peripheral components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary protective action by providing a guiding structure that directs the terminal into proper alignment with the conductor before actual contact occurs. The guide ensures that the terminal approaches the conductor along a controlled path, preventing lateral contact with peripheral components that could cause damage. This preliminary guidance maintains connection simplicity while protecting terminal integrity.
3Illumination intensity
If a light source is provided at the rear end of the shelf, then lighting can be achieved, but wire length increases and compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source with the shelf structure itself. Instead of providing a separate light source at the rear end requiring long wire connections, the lighting function is integrated directly into the shelf assembly. This integration eliminates the need for separate wiring runs, reduces overall wire length, and maintains compact configuration while still providing effective illumination of the shelf area.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A refrigerator with shelf lighting is provided that may include a refrigerator main body (110) having a storage room (115), at least one shelf (140) provided inside of the storage room, a light source (160) provided at a rear end of the shelf, a power supply rail (240) provided at a rear of the storage room, the power supply rail supplying power to the light source, and a light guide plate (210) provided at the at least one shelf. The light guide plate may guide light of the light source to a front of the shelf. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a length of an electric wire connecting the light source to the power supply rail and prevent the occurrence of glare caused by direct lighting.